religion

4 Times Iceland Made Major Decisions Based On Elves

Iceland is a country dotted with Viking relics, breathtaking volcanic landscapes and picture-perfect scenery. And, if you believe one subset of the population, elves.

By Nickolaus Hines • Apr 26, 2016

4 Times Iceland Made Major Decisions Based On Elves

Iceland is a country dotted with Viking relics, breathtaking volcanic landscapes and picture-perfect scenery. And, if you believe one subset of the population, elves.

By Nickolaus Hines • April 26, 2016

The Gruesome Crimes Of Hans Schmidt, The Only Catholic Priest Ever Executed In US History

Hans Schmidt illegally married, impregnated, and then brutally murdered and dismembered his mistress. For that crime, he was eventually executed via electrocution, and to this day is the only Catholic priest ever executed in the United States. Turns out, the murder he was caught for was only the tip of the iceberg.

By Nickolaus Hines • Apr 22, 2016

The Gruesome Crimes Of Hans Schmidt, The Only Catholic Priest Ever Executed In US History

Hans Schmidt illegally married, impregnated, and then brutally murdered and dismembered his mistress. For that crime, he was eventually executed via electrocution, and to this day is the only Catholic priest ever executed in the United States. Turns out, the murder he was caught for was only the tip of the iceberg.

By Nickolaus Hines • April 22, 2016

U.S. Muslim Population Booming, Christian Population Dwindling — See The Surprising Stats Of The Fastest Growing Religion In The World

This Pew report reveals the fastest growing religion in the world. The answer will likely surprise and, sadly, terrify many in the U.S.

By John Kuroski • Apr 14, 2016

News

U.S. Muslim Population Booming, Christian Population Dwindling — See The Surprising Stats Of The Fastest Growing Religion In The World

This Pew report reveals the fastest growing religion in the world. The answer will likely surprise and, sadly, terrify many in the U.S.

By John Kuroski • April 14, 2016

20 Surprising Quotes To Celebrate Pope Francis’ Birthday

El Papa Francesco turns 79 years old today. From calling on the world to combat climate change to his professional past as a janitor, chef and club bouncer, the current head of the Catholic Church challenges popular conceptions of the papacy, wooing diverse audiences from around the world. On his...

By Erin Kelly • Dec 17, 2015

News

20 Surprising Quotes To Celebrate Pope Francis’ Birthday

El Papa Francesco turns 79 years old today. From calling on the world to combat climate change to his professional past as a janitor, chef and club bouncer, the current head of the Catholic Church challenges popular conceptions of the papacy, wooing diverse audiences from around the world. On his...

By Erin Kelly • December 17, 2015

Inside Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland’s Absolutely Bizarre Church

Hallgrímskirkja church is weird, rugged and totally Iceland.

By John Schellhase • Dec 11, 2015

Inside Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland’s Absolutely Bizarre Church

Hallgrímskirkja church is weird, rugged and totally Iceland.

By John Schellhase • December 11, 2015

We Visited Kentucky’s Creation Museum. This Is What We Saw.

The town of Petersburg, Kentucky sits quietly at the mouth of the Midwest. The Ohio River snakes around the borders of the scant, 620-person town, separating it from the state of Indiana immediately north, and Ohio slightly northeast. Streaks of smoke hang lazily among the clouds, stretching into the sky...

By Savannah Cox • Oct 19, 2015

We Visited Kentucky’s Creation Museum. This Is What We Saw.

The town of Petersburg, Kentucky sits quietly at the mouth of the Midwest. The Ohio River snakes around the borders of the scant, 620-person town, separating it from the state of Indiana immediately north, and Ohio slightly northeast. Streaks of smoke hang lazily among the clouds, stretching into the sky...

By Savannah Cox • October 19, 2015

At The Indian Festival Of Theyyam, The Nation’s Poorest Are Transformed Into Gods

Each year, Indian's poorest transform into rich, burnt orange oracles in Theyyam. But modernization might spell the festival's end.

By John Schellhase • Oct 4, 2015

At The Indian Festival Of Theyyam, The Nation’s Poorest Are Transformed Into Gods

Each year, Indian's poorest transform into rich, burnt orange oracles in Theyyam. But modernization might spell the festival's end.

By John Schellhase • October 4, 2015

Pope Francis Has More Twitter Followers Than The White House, And 15 Other Things To Know About El Papa

The 266th pope has captured the hearts of people from all over the world, and after reading these Pope Francis facts, it's not hard to see why.

By Kiri Picone • Sep 24, 2015

News

Pope Francis Has More Twitter Followers Than The White House, And 15 Other Things To Know About El Papa

The 266th pope has captured the hearts of people from all over the world, and after reading these Pope Francis facts, it's not hard to see why.

By Kiri Picone • September 24, 2015

Mother Teresa, The Nun Who Wore A Sari

While Mother Teresa did much to improve the lives of the poor in Kolkata, today the number of the city's poor has only proliferated.

By Teresa Cantero • Sep 6, 2015

Mother Teresa, The Nun Who Wore A Sari

While Mother Teresa did much to improve the lives of the poor in Kolkata, today the number of the city's poor has only proliferated.

By Teresa Cantero • September 6, 2015

eL Seed Paints Peace Across The Arab World

How eL Seed, a celebrated French-Tunisian calligraffiti artist, is spreading peace and hope, one blank wall and one can of spray paint at a time.

By Briana Jones • Sep 1, 2015

eL Seed Paints Peace Across The Arab World

How eL Seed, a celebrated French-Tunisian calligraffiti artist, is spreading peace and hope, one blank wall and one can of spray paint at a time.

By Briana Jones • September 1, 2015

Behind The Scenes At The World Muslim Beauty Pageant

Before you ask if there’s a swimsuit competition, you should know that the Miss World Muslimah pageant is about much more than superficial definitions of beauty. As Islam tends to place a high value on modesty, this contest focuses less on beauty’s physical aspects and more on its ideational ones:...

By Erin Kelly • Aug 4, 2015

Behind The Scenes At The World Muslim Beauty Pageant

Before you ask if there’s a swimsuit competition, you should know that the Miss World Muslimah pageant is about much more than superficial definitions of beauty. As Islam tends to place a high value on modesty, this contest focuses less on beauty’s physical aspects and more on its ideational ones:...

By Erin Kelly • August 4, 2015

To Hell And Back: Ethiopia’s Jews In Israel

Tucked away in northwest Ethiopia, along a line roughly stretching from Lake Tana to the border of Eritrea, lies the land of Beta Israel. This ancient region was once home to over 150,000 observant Jews, though only around 4,000 remain in the area today, most residents having relocated to Israel...

By Richard Stockton • Aug 2, 2015

To Hell And Back: Ethiopia’s Jews In Israel

Tucked away in northwest Ethiopia, along a line roughly stretching from Lake Tana to the border of Eritrea, lies the land of Beta Israel. This ancient region was once home to over 150,000 observant Jews, though only around 4,000 remain in the area today, most residents having relocated to Israel...

By Richard Stockton • August 2, 2015